FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2013
CONTACT
Office of Communications and Public Relations
ALEXANDRIA CITY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES
FY 2014 COMBINED FUNDS BUDGET OF $244.96 MILLION
Alexandria Va. — The Alexandria City School Board has adopted the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Combined Funds Budget. The FY 2014 Approved Combined Funds Budget of $244,960,261 is a 2.4 percent increase over the FY 2013 Final Combined Funds Budget. The FY 2014 Approved Operating Budget totals $226,459,115, an increase of 3.9 percent, or $8,504,682 over the FY 2013 Final Operating Budget. The Combined Funds Budget includes the approved operating budget, as well as $11,373,998 in grants and special projects and $7,127,148 for school nutrition services. The budget also includes a City of Alexandria appropriation of $185,486,405, an increase of 3.3 percent, or $6,000,000 over FY 2013.
"We respect the fiscal challenges of the City Council, and we are pleased to provide a budget that is within the targets set by the Mayor, Council and City Manager," said School Board Chair Karen Graf. "Having taken office in January, the school board carefully considered the comments and input from the principals, community members and staff over the past two months.”
Enrollment for 2014 is expected to reach 13,707, which is an increase of 593 students over the current enrollment. ACPS has among the most diverse student populations and the highest number of students who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals (56 percent) in Northern Virginia. The approved budget continues support for transformation efforts and provides stronger investments in student achievement and professional learning for staff.
Highlights of the FY 2014 approved budget include:
- Net increase of more than 50 full-time equivalents (FTEs), all funding sources combined; the operating budget includes a net increase of more than 70 FTEs offset by reductions in grant-funded positions.
- Flexibility for elementary schools in staffing for their most pressing needs
- Authentic texts for elementary reading
- New science and social studies textbooks for secondary schools
- Appropriate school administration staff for all buildings, with additional assistant principals for elementary schools
- Increased number of elementary counselors to catch up with growing enrollment and maintained secondary counselor-to-student ratios
- Support for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
- Support for the T.C. Satellite Campus
- Support for the Family And Community Engagement (FACE) Centers
- Support for the dual-language programs
- A revised and more rigorous professional learning model
- Continued investment in extended learning
- Continued investment in special education staffing above state requirements
- Additional support for English Language Learners (ELL) students and the International Academy
- Increased commitment to Prekindergarten education, including three additional classrooms
- Continued investment in employee compensation by adopting a full-step increase to be awarded halfway through the contract year for all eligible employees
"We take pride in the open discussions the administration has had with the community and the school board over the past months to both make compromises and preserve a first-rate budget to allow us to provide an excellent education to our students,” said Superintendent Morton Sherman. “The core of this budget is an ongoing commitment to support our students through excellence in the classroom. The addition of ELL teachers, counselors, preschool teachers and related support services maintains our beliefs and continues our improvement through direct and focused instruction."
Budget information and documents may be viewed at http://www.acps.k12.va.us/
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